Invitation: Conference on improved fisheries management models
2019.9.26
The Nordic Marine Think Tank (NMTT) and EUfishmeal are delighted to invite you to a conference on Tuesday 8 October 2019 at 14.00-17.00 dealing with the findings of the recently finalised Fmsy project.
The conference will take place in Axelborg, Axeltorv 3, 1609 Copenhagen V, Denmark.
The Fmsy project, which was conducted in 2017-2019, shows that changing fisheries management models to take account of ecosystem interactions and density dependent factors can provide considerable increases in Fmsy values. Considering that these models can provide more reliable and accurate outcomes, they provide a much needed up-date for fisheries scientists and managers.
The Fmsy project has involved some of the world’s best-known fisheries research capacities in biology and fisheries management from a range of North Atlantic countries. The project has been undertaken with financing from the Nordic Council of Ministers, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the Danish Ministry of Environment and Food as well as the Norwegian Fisheries Research Fund via IMR Norway.
The Fmsy estimates in the project can already now be used directly in the annual assessment and advisory process to guide managers, and the purpose of the Conference is to introduce this as a more correct basis for the management of the fisheries resources and to broaden the knowledge of ecosystem-based fisheries management.
Register by email to: nordiskmarin@gmail.com no later than Friday 4 October.
Draft Conference Program:
| 14:00 – 14:15 | Welcome and Introductions. Anne Mette Bæk, GD EUfishmeal, and Carl-Christian Schmidt, NMTT Chair. |
| 14:15 – 14:45 | Introduction and Overview of the results of the Fmsy project – Henrik Sparholt, Project Leader, and Petur Steingrund, Faroe Marine Research Institute |
| 14:45 – 15:00 | Views from the fishmeal sector by Johannes Palsson, President EUfishmeal |
| 15:00 – 15:15 | How ICES can take the results into consideration –[tbc]. |
| 15:15 – 15:30 | What are the economic gains from changing fisheries management? Esben Sverdrup Jensen, Chair Pelagic Advisory Committee |
| 15:30 – 15:45 | A view from the Danish Fisheries Organisation. Michael Andersen, chief biologist Danish Fishermen’s Association |
| 15:45 – 16:00 | How fisheries policy makers can help move the agenda forwards. Ole Toft, Danish Director of Fisheries. |
| 16:00 – 17:00 | Panel discussion with participants. Panel to consist of Mogens Schou, Poul Degnbol and [tbc] outlining a way forward for fisheries management. Moderated by Anne Mette Bæk and Carl-Christian Schmidt
Conclusions and farewell. Anne Mette Bæk and Carl-Christian Schmidt |
Background
The fish stock assessment models used around the globe to inform fisheries management generally do not account for ecosystem interactions. This results in an underestimation of the target fishing pressure (Fmsy). Ecosystem and multi-species research indicate that the bias in the Fmsy estimates could be substantial. This is expected to result in foregone sustainable yield and is unfortunate because an increasing global population is demanding more food and because fish products are healthy and have a low carbon footprint compared to most meat produced on land. It is also noted that well-managed fisheries are relevant for as many as 10 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. The Fmsy estimates in the project have been developed so that they can be used directly in the annual assessment and advisory process to guide managers. The new Fmsy values are substantially higher and correspond to an almost 50% increase in fishing pressure. The full report from the Fmsy project is available here.
